Photographic type-composing

ABSTRACT

A high speed straight matter photocomposing machine for projecting proportionately-spaced character images on an imagereceiving surface in order to compose lines of type of graphic arts quality at computer print-out speeds.

. l I Umted States Patent [151 3,675,560 Moyroud 14 1 July 11, 1972 1541PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE-COMPOSING [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: LouisM. Moymud, c/o Photon, Inc., 355 UNITED STATES PATENTS g 'gg Avenue'Beach- 2,726,940 12/1955 Buhler..................................95/4.5x 3,422,736 1/1969 Moyroud et a1. ..95/4.5 [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 19703,496,847 2/[970 Levine ...95/4.5 3,517,591 6/l970 Cope USS/4.5 P 63.49"3,537,365 11/1970 Schumann s 4.5

P I i Primary Examiner-Samuel 8. Matthews [30] roman Apphcauon DamAssistant liraminerRobert P. Greiner Aug. I5, 1969 Great Britain40.888/69 A orney-William D. O'Reilly s2 u.s.c1. ..95/4.5R I571 ABSTRACT21/ A high speed straight matter photocomposing machine for [58] Fieldof Search ..95/4.5 projecting roportionately-spaced character images onan image-receiving surface in order to compose lines of type of graphicarts quality at computer print-out speeds.

6 China, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'TEDJUL 11 L972 3, 675.560

F l G. l

co/v TROL I2 INVENTOR I 2 LOUIS M.MOYROUD ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL 1 1 I972SHEET 2 OF 2 CONTROL.

INVENTOR LOUIS M. MOYROUD ATTORNEY PI-IO'I'OGRAPHIC TYPE-COMPOSINGBACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This inventionpertains to a high-speed straight matter photocomposing machine forprojecting proportionatelyspaced character images on an image-receivingsurface such as film of photosensitive paper, in order to form lines ofprint of graphic arts quality at computer print-out speeds.

High-speed non-impact computer print-out machines are known. Similarly,photocomposing machines which print proportionately-spaced lines ofgraphic arts quality have been in commercial use for many years.However, there does not exist a non-impact printing machine whichcombines quality typography with computer print-out speed at moderateprices. For purposes of this discussion, computer print-out speed isdefined as composing speeds in excess of 1,000 lines per minute, whereineach line contains a minimum of 64 alphanumeric characters.

The present invention retains the known non-impact technology of arapidly rotating character matrix drum, but adds the innovative conceptsof special character orientation, as well as "flash delay combined witharea overlap." Specifically, an array of characters are positioned on arotatable drum in a plurality of rows and columns. The characters areoriented such that they pass through an arcuate projection zone withtheir leading edges parallel to the drum axis, rather than perpendicularthereto, as in the prior art. This enables each of the characters to beilluminated at any one of a plurality of locations within the projectionzone as they pass therethrough, thereby effectively sweeping a latentimage of each character across a portion of an image-receiving surfacesuch as a film or photosensitive paper. After each of the selec tivelyilluminated character images has been reoriented by passing through anassociated respective optical deflector (such as a dove prism), theimages are projected or focused along a common base line on the film inproportionatelyspaced relation to one another. As is apparent in FIG. 2of the drawings, the character image displacement areas on the filmwhich are formed by the associated image deflectors overlap those of thedeflectors immediately contiguous thereto, so that a series of characterimages of narrower or wider than average width may be even moreprecisely positioned relative to one another. Therefore, the presentinvention enabies a full line of graphic arts quality to be printed foreach revolution of the drum. Precise proportional character spacing isensured by the employment of "flash delay combined with "area overlap,while computer print-out speed is achieved by composing a full line foreach drum revolution.

While a drum is preferred, the charactercarrier may comprise ananalogous arrangement such as an endless belt. Similarly, the use of aplurality of flash lamps as the source of illumination may be modifiedby the employment of a "thin cathode ray tube or laser light source,instead of the lamps.

The present invention will be more fully described in the detaileddescription which follows, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the matrix orcharacter-carrier of the machine;

FIG. 2 represents a part-sectional, broken plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the manner in which a characterimage is swept across a portion of the film after having been reorientedby by the dove prism; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in which thecharacter-carrier is upright relative to the moving film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, characters, transparent on opaque background are located onmovable matrix drum 4. The characters are arranged in parallel rows orcircles 6, 7 13 etc. as shown. This arrangement results in a pluralityof columns as shown in FIG. 1. There are approximately as many circlesas the maximum number of characters of average width that can beaccommodated in the longest line which is to be composed. The charactersare spaced around the drum so that there cannot be more than onecharacter of each circle at a given time within an angle 2, hereafterreferred to as the arcuate projection zone." The matrix drum is adaptedto continuously rotate, and any character located in the arcuateprojection zone 88-89-90-91 representing the drum slice limited at bothends by the projection arc, as shown, can be projected onto a lightsensitive surface 36 by a flash of very short duration all of which iscontrolled by control means 12. The timing of the projection flash isdetermined by the position of the character to be projected and thelocation of said character in the line to be composed, as explained inUS. Pat. Nos. 3,291,015, and 3,4l6,420, and copending U.S. applicationsSer. No. 690,720 filed Dec. 13, 1967 and Ser. No. 827,128 filed May 21,I969.

Each character is accurately located on the matrix drum in relation tothe others as well as to a zero" line or reference point 88-90. Thisaccurate positioning is accomplished by the use of a reference point foreach character as explained in the above-mentioned patents andapplications. As shown in FIG. 1, characters of each row are preferablypositioned on the drum ID that their base line is concentric with thedrum axis, the base line being shown at 6, 7 etc.

Various sectional views of the machine are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. Matrix drum 4 is shown as an assembly consisting of thecharacter area 40 and a hollow hub 18 which is supported by ballbearings 20. A fixed holder 16 secured to the base of the machinesupports the stationary flashing assembly which is located inside thedrum. This assembly comprises a plurality of flash units 14-], 14-2,etc., (one for each character circle or row) condensing lenses (orequivalent optical system) generally designated at 22, and light bafiles24. The purpose of baffles 24 is to avoid light cross-talk" (lightoverlap) by confining the light emitted by a given flash unit to theportion of the arcuate projection zone assigned to this unit and itsassociated character row or circle (such a zone is shown at 92 in FIG.1). Similar light baffles 26 are located on the outside of the drum 4 inorder to channel the light rays emerging from a desired character to thepro jection system associated with the row of the character. Asdiscussed previously, the flash lamps may be replaced by a "thin CRT orlaser light source, if desired. In this case, the coherent light of alaser source would obviate the need for batfles.

A typical optical system unit comprises an image-reorienting means suchas an image rotating deflector, schematically shown at 30-1, 30-2, etc.,and a projection lens 32-], 32-2, etc. In the example shown, thedeflecting means is a clove prism. The position of the prism in thefigures is intended to be illustrative only. The projection units aresecured in a longitudinal plate 34 attached to the frame of the machine.The light emerging from the projection lenses 32 impinges upon aphotosensitive surface, shown in the form of a film or photosensitivepaper 36.

It is well known that certain prisms or other deflector units can rotatean image. The most commonly used deflector for obtaining image rotationis the dove prism. The operation of the machine is illustratedschematically in FIG. 4. In this figure, the arcuate projection zone 92of FIG. 1 is represented by a plane 54. Line 52 of plane 54 representseither the base line of a character or the partial trace lefi on theplane by the displacement of a point of a character (for example, theletter R) as it moves from position 520 to position 521;. Point 50 isthe equivalent of a dove prism turned around its long axis to rotatelight rays by 90. Line-object 52 is projected as an image 55 on plane 58representing the film. Now it can be seen that, by flashing character Rat different times as it passes through the arcuate projection zonerepresented by plane 54, it is possible to selectively position theimage of the character at any one of a plurality of locations along itsbase line on the film. In other words, a latent image of each characteris swept across a portion of the film, and at the proper moment thecharacter is illuminated, which results in an actual character imageproportionately spaced from the other images in accordance with theirrespective widths. Of course, the amount of displacement of a characteralong the line to be composed depends on the dimensions or extent of thearcuate projection zone.

The area or latitude of displacement of a character represented by line55 in FIG. 4, is also shown at 94-96 in FIG. 2. As shown, displacementareas or character image areas preferably overlap from character row tocharacter row in order to leave more latitude in positioning asuccession of characters which may be either narrower or wider thanaverage. In unusual cases, it will be necessary for the drum to rotatetwo or more turns to produce a full line of composition. However, inmost cases, one line of proportionately spaced characters will beobtained for each drum revolution. Thus, a drum rotating at a speed of50 rps could produce up to 50 lines of composition per second, excludingthe displacement time of the film for line spacing; line spacing timecould be obviated by continuously displacing the film, as is well knownin the art.

In the arrangement of FIG. 5, a simple lens 100 is used to project anycharacter of the arcuate projection zone 88-89-9 -91 of FIG. 1. This isachieved by positioning the characters on the drum as shown, and bystoring a full page of type at a time. Characters of different lines areprojected as they pass through the projection zone. It is understood, ofcourse, that the arrangement of FIG. 5 also projectsproportionatelyspaced characters onto the image-receiving surface, thuscomposing lines of graphic arts quality. The film is also moved byconventional motor means in the direction of the lines of composition inorder to produce proportionately-spaced lines of extended length,thereby composing a full page at a time.

The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative only. Variouschanges or modifications in the disclosed embodiments may occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is understood, therefore, that all suchmodifications which would be apparent to one skilled in the art areincluded within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic type composing machine comprising:

a movable character-carrier having an array of characters arranged incolumns and rows thereon, said carrier adapted to be moved such thateach of said character columns passes successively and repetitivelythrough a projection zone associated with said carrier,

means for illuminating at least one of said characters as each of saidrespective columns passes through said projection zone,

a surface for receiving images of illuminated characters projected fromsaid zone,

optical means for focusing images projected from said zone onto saidimage-receiving surface, and

control means to vary the time at which said illuminating means isenergized, such that any character in a given column may be illuminatedat any one of a plurality of locations within the zone as said columnpasses therethrough, whereby a latent image of each of said characterssweeps across a portion of said image-receiving surface, in order toform lines of composition thereon in which the character images areproportionately spaced from one another in accordance with theirrespective widths.

2. The machine of claim I in which:

said characters pass through said zone in a first direction.

and

said image-receiving surface is oriented such that lines of compositionwill be formed thereon in a second direction.

said machine including means for reorienting the images of charactersprojected from said zone such that said images are focused on saidsurface along a common base line in said second direction. 3. Themachine of claim 2 in which said image-reorienting means comprises aplurality of optical deflectors positioned so as to rotate the projectedcharacter images through a predetermined angle relative to said zone assaid characters sweep therethrough, the degree of image rotation beingsufficient to align said character images along a common base line whichis perpendicular to the direction of motion of said carrier.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein each of said deflectors comprises aclove prism and an associated projection lens, and wherein eachcharacter has a corresponding deflector associated therewith during thepassage of said character through said projection zone.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein:

said carrier comprises a rotatable drum,

said projection zone is arcuate, and is of sufficient dimensions toinclude not more than one character column at any given time, and

said deflectors are positioned adjacent to one another such that acharacter image area on the image-receiving surface for a givendeflector partially overlaps those of the deflectors immediatelycontiguous thereto, in order to properly position thereon a series ofcharacter images which may be narrower or wider than average.

6. The machine of claim 1 including means for moving saidimage-receiving surface in the direction of said lines to be composed,in order to form proportionately-spaced lines of composition of extendedlength.

1. A photographic type composing machine comprising: a movablecharacter-carrier having an array of characters arranged in columns androws thereon, said carrier adapted to be moved such that each of saidcharacter columns passes successively and repetitively through aprojection zone associated with said carriEr, means for illuminating atleast one of said characters as each of said respective columns passesthrough said projection zone, a surface for receiving images ofilluminated characters projected from said zone, optical means forfocusing images projected from said zone onto said image-receivingsurface, and control means to vary the time at which said illuminatingmeans is energized, such that any character in a given column may beilluminated at any one of a plurality of locations within the zone assaid column passes therethrough, whereby a latent image of each of saidcharacters sweeps across a portion of said image-receiving surface, inorder to form lines of composition thereon in which the character imagesare proportionately spaced from one another in accordance with theirrespective widths.
 2. The machine of claim 1 in which: said characterspass through said zone in a first direction, and said image-receivingsurface is oriented such that lines of composition will be formedthereon in a second direction, said machine including means forreorienting the images of characters projected from said zone such thatsaid images are focused on said surface along a common base line in saidsecond direction.
 3. The machine of claim 2 in which saidimage-reorienting means comprises a plurality of optical deflectorspositioned so as to rotate the projected character images through apredetermined angle relative to said zone as said characters sweeptherethrough, the degree of image rotation being sufficient to alignsaid character images along a common base line which is perpendicular tothe direction of motion of said carrier.
 4. The machine of claim 3wherein each of said deflectors comprises a dove prism and an associatedprojection lens, and wherein each character has a correspondingdeflector associated therewith during the passage of said characterthrough said projection zone.
 5. The machine of claim 4 wherein: saidcarrier comprises a rotatable drum, said projection zone is arcuate, andis of sufficient dimensions to include not more than one charactercolumn at any given time, and said deflectors are positioned adjacent toone another such that a character image area on the image-receivingsurface for a given deflector partially overlaps those of the deflectorsimmediately contiguous thereto, in order to properly position thereon aseries of character images which may be narrower or wider than average.6. The machine of claim 1 including means for moving saidimage-receiving surface in the direction of said lines to be composed,in order to form proportionately-spaced lines of composition of extendedlength.